Professional cyclists pass through Brian Head after pushing through their highest climb of the race, Brian Head, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

CEDAR CITY – Cloudy skies and patches of rain cooled temperatures all along the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah route Monday, where 16 teams of 126 professional cyclists from around the world completed the first of seven stages of what is internationally known as “America’s Toughest Stage Race.”

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Videocast by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

“Most of the bikers who are here this week, have just come back to the United States from the Tour de France,” Julie Saemisch, Brian Head volunteer coordinator, said. “We have a very high quality level of professional biking here this week.”

126 racers line up at the starting line to begin stage one of Tour of Utah, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

The first stage of the Tour of Utah consisted of a 113.5-mile course with 8,873 feet of elevation gain, beginning and ending in Cedar City. This course took the cluster of cyclists, known as the peloton, through various Southern Utah landscapes ranging from desert, to mountains and forest greenery that included Escalante Desert, Parowan Gap, the city of Parowan, Brian Head, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Mammoth Creek, Cedar Canyon and Cedar City.

“Every town that has ever held the race wants the race to come back,” Saemisch said. “It is that fun and that exciting.”

Twenty-two year old, Moreno Hofland, with the Belkin Pro Cycling Team from the Netherlands, sprinted to the finish on Main Street for his first victory on American soil, and his first lead with a time of 4 hours, 51 minutes, 2 seconds. Jure Kocjan, for team SmartShop Pro Cycling, came in second and Andrew Palini, with Lampre-Merida, in third.

L-R: Andrea Palini, Moreno Hofland and Jure Kocjan take to the podium during the awards ceremony, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Tour of Utah was Hofland’s first race back from an accident that occurred in the final stage of the Tour of California last May resulting in five broken ribs, a fractured vertebrae and multiple weeks off of his bike. Although he had a really hard crash in California, it was not enough to keep him away from Tour of Utah’s stage-one victory and the prestigious, yellow race leader jersey.

“This is the first time for me in my career for me to be wearing the leader’s jersey. I am going to enjoy it tomorrow,” Hofland said. “It is very special.”

Hofland and his Belkin team members arrived in Park City two weeks ago to prepare for altitude training.

“Of course, the race in the altitude was hard for us. I am from Holland and that is sea level. We prepared really good for this race” Hofland said.

Tomorrow will begin the second stage of Tour of Utah beginning in Panguitch and ending in Torrey, passing through Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Dixie National Forest. Stage two is the longest stage of the week and racers will climb 10,162 feet.

Bikers will be racing over 700 miles in seven days peaking into Evanston, Wyoming, during stage five and ending in Park City this Sunday for the conclusion of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Information on live coverage of Tour of Utah can be found on Tour of Utah’s website.

St. George News Reporter Hollie Reina contributed to this report from Cedar City.

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Professional cyclists pass through Brian Head after pushing through their highest climb of the race, Brian Head, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Professional cyclists pass through Brian Head after pushing through their highest climb of the race, Brian Head, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Cyclists begin their third circuit on Main Street before crossing the finish line, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Professional cyclists pass through Brian Head after pushing through their highest climb of the race, Brian Head, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

L-R: Andrea Palini, Moreno Hofland and Jure Kocjan take to the podium during the awards ceremony, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Spectators cheering on the athletes climbed trees and roofs to get a better view, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Cyclists begin their third circuit on Main Street before crossing the finish line, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Professional cyclists pass through Brian Head after pushing through their highest climb of the race, Brian Head, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

2011 Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans lines up for the start of the Tour of Utah stage one. Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

126 racers line up at the starting line to begin stage one of Tour of Utah, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

126 racers line up at the starting line to begin stage one of Tour of Utah, Cedar City, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Racers round the corner into Parowan, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Corey McNeil, St. George News

Spectators line the streets of Parowan to cheer on the cyclists, Parowan, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo Racers round the corner into Parowan, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Corey McNeil, St. George News

Racers round the corner into Parowan, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Corey McNeil, St. George News

Racers round the corner into Parowan, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Corey McNeil, St. George News

Racers round the corner into Parowan, Utah, August 4, 2014 | Photo by Corey McNeil, St. George News

Copyright St. George News, StGeorgeUtah.com Inc., 2014, all rights reserved

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About the Author

Samantha Tommer is completing her studies at Dixie State University. She is currently working towards her bachelor's degree in integrated studies with a combined major of mass communication and criminal justice. She has had experience with broadcast journalism since 2011. She started off as a producer for DSU's news show, State of the Storm. While producing, she took up the interest in becoming a reporter. She has worked with Dixie Sun News as multimedia editor as well as a co-anchor for the Dixie Sun News Show. Samantha brings her love for and experience in broadcast journalism as a vital member of the St. George News team.